Opening invocation
Beloved, let us love one another, for love is from God.
1 John 4:7a
God of compassion, we bring into your presence all that weighs on our hearts this week, especially the human suffering we see and hear of in the news daily. We gather these headlines not to dwell in despair or fear, but to bring them into the refuge of your healing presence.
Deep Focus
We pray especially for Gaza, where a man made famine is unfolding and 217 people, many of them children, died of starvation this week. To our horror, aid continues to be blocked, and people who come for food to the military controlled aid stations are often shot. Lord, hear the cries of these people, and the cries of our own hearts against this murderous injustice in front of a seemingly helpless world. Open the way for food and medical supplies to flood into Gaza, and open the hearts of those opposed, that they might be filled with mercy.
Spend a few minutes in simple silence with God. Feel what you feel about Gaza’s situation, all of it. Let it be here for God to do something with it. Don’t worry about words. Just be as open as you can in silence and trust, letting yourself be a channel for the outflow of his divine will into this world, for his transforming love to come through you.
*You may notice a quiet change in how you feel as you do this. Even if you don’t, God remains God and you can trust he is working through you right now.
Other Intercessions/Headlines to pray over
Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you.
Matthew 7:7
For those who live in fear of ICE, that they will be protected, treated with dignity and justice, and for those standing up for them, we pray.
Lord hear our payer.
For those detained by ICE, especially those being harmed and abused, Oh God deliver them.
Lord, Hear our prayer.
For those in the path of wildfires, that they and the fire fighters will be safe.
Lord, hear our prayer.
For Ukraine, for a just and lasting peace.
Lord, hear our prayer.
For the defeat of authoritarian leaders and governments all over the world, we pray.
Lord, hear our prayer.
For the victims of Epstein and Maxwell, that they will be heard, believed and respected. May there will be justice and restoration for them.
Lord, hear our prayer.
Jesus, you have said we must pray for our enemies, so we pray for the enemies of justice and love, that they will be truly converted in mind and heart.
Lord, hear our prayer.
Closing Blessing
Let justice roll down like waters,
Amos 5:24
and righteousness like an ever-flowing stream.
God, in the moments when the news overwhelms, steady our spirits with the reminder that you hold the world- sun and star, nation and neighbor, beetle and bug, atom and quark in your hands and that you remain you even if worlds fall. May your peace shape our hearts, your justice and love shape our actions this week. Lead us in your ways. Amen.
*Reader, please feel free to add your own prayers to these in the comments if I have missed a news story that got to you this week.
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